Author
August 15th, 2018
This article was updated in August, 2018 to reflect updates from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) that clarify procedures at specific Canadian border crossings, as outlined below.
The roll-out of a pilot program restricting when and where foreign nationals may renew or change their immigration status by traveling to the Canada-US border has created havoc for people attempting the procedure at crossings in Ontario and Quebec. The pilot restricts a practice commonly known as “flagpoling,” indicating the quick U-turn made at the border before re-entering Canada.
Under the pilot program, first launched on June 16, 2017, the CBSA has restricted flagpoling at the Rainbow, Queenston-Lewiston, and Peace Bridges in southern Ontario, citing high volumes and excessive immigration wait times experienced from Friday to Monday.
The new procedures were subsequently extended to include the Lacolle and St-Armand ports of entry in Quebec.
Flagpoling requests
The affected border crossings (ports of entry) and specific procedures in place at those crossings are outlined below. Simply click on the relevant slide to reveal the information you need.
Instead of receiving immediate processing of Confirmation of Permanent Residence, work permit, and study permit applications, as the case may be, temporary residents who flagpole at the specified border crossings on restricted days are instead presented with the following options:
- Apply online, by mail, or make an appointment at an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office within Canada; or
- Return to a CBSA port of entry at the stated times when operational volumes permit the processing of these applications.
Regardless of which option is chosen, affected flagpolers may be allowed to proceed into Canada under their current immigration status.
Why do people flagpole?
Many temporary residents of Canada wish to avoid the online or paper application process in order to bypass the anticipated time it takes IRCC to process the same application or schedule a permanent resident landing interview inside Canada. Whereas an online application to IRCC may take weeks or months to process, applying at the border can take just a few minutes, excluding travel time.
IRCC and the CBSA are separate departments of the federal government.
Much of the commotion about the pilot program concerns the fact that flagpoling at the aforementioned ports of entry is only allowed on particular business days, meaning workers or students working regular business or academic hours may have to take time off to complete the procedure.
Because the pilot program was initiated quietly – no public notice was issued and the CBSA website includes no mention of it, though members of the Canadian Bar Association were notified – some would-be flagpolers have been caught unaware upon presentation at the border, often after a lengthy journey and/or having taken time away from work or studies.
Moreover, anecdotal reports submitted to Moving2Canada suggest that CBSA officials working at other ports of entry along the US-Canada border may refuse to process requests from flagpolers.
In any case, it is recommended that individuals contact the Canadian port of entry of choice to inquire about the reception times for these types of request at 1-800-461-9999. To choose the nearest port of entry, please visit visit this page.
If applying for a work permit, you may be able to have your application processed online or by paper without going to the border or re-entering Canada.